Youth justice
Indicators
Young people in detention - average day
Young people in detention - on an average day (WA only)
Young people managed in the community - on an average day (WA only)
Young people under community-based supervision - average day
Policy context
Young people who commit or allegedly commit a crime when aged 10 to 17 may be dealt with under the youth justice system. Each state and territory in Australia has its own youth justice legislation, policies and practices but the general processes by which young people are charged, and the types of legal orders available to the courts, are similar.¹
The personal, economic and social costs of not addressing the underlying causes of youth offending for both the affected young people and the wider community, are significant.²ʼ³ It is essential that coordinated early intervention and the delivery of therapeutic programs and supports to address the underlying causes of offending are implemented to divert children and young people away from the justice system.⁴
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2025, Youth justice [website] [cited 2025 June 23]. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/youth-justice
CoLab – Collaborate for Kids et al 2019, How Australia can invest in children and return more, A new look at the $15b cost of late action, CoLab – Collaborate for Kids, p. 5 [cited 2023 September 19]. Available at: https://cdn.minderoo.org/content/uploads/2019/10/15174253/20191016-COLI-Report.pdf
Fox S et al 2015, Better Systems, Better Chances: A Review of Research and Practice for Prevention and Early Intervention, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), p. 35 [cited 2023 September 19]. Available at: https://www.aracy.org.au/publications-resources/command/download_file/id/274/filename/Better-systems-better-chances.pdf
Commissioner for Children and Young People WA, Indicators of Wellbeing, Safe in the home [cited 2023 September 19]. Available at: https://www.ccyp.wa.gov.au/our-work/indicators-of-wellbeing/age-group-12-to-17-years/safe-in-the-home/
